Operator Readiness Survey | Visit Red Deer

Operator Readiness Checklist

New and refreshed tourism experiences present travellers with compelling invitations to choose Red Deer. These experiences inspire immediacy for travel, influence new traveller interest and increase market share. Tourism Red Deer is working with Travel Alberta, to support market preparedness and export readiness and encourage alignment with Alberta’s tourism brand. Get started – by taking this survey to increase your sales opportunities and distribution channels.

Name
First Last
Name of Business
Phone
Email
Address
Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country
Operator Readiness Survey Scale
For each business readiness criterion in each category indicate, for your business, the appropriate number in the drop down menus:
Visitor Ready
A business that meets the basic licensing, permitting and insurance to operate legally.
1. Have an up-to-date license
Maintain at least $1 million in commercial liability insurance (you have consulted an insurance broker to ensure you have adequate coverage)
Maintain appropriate property insurance coverage
Operate with all require permits
Please list permits needed for your business
Display professionally produced signage (if applicable)
List what actions are needed for your business to fully meet all of the visitor- ready criteria and a time-frame for completion.
Market Ready
A business that markets to potential travellers; communicates with potential travellers year-round and is able to accept advance reservations. This is the basic level of readiness to conduct a tourism operation.
Provide published pricing for products/experiences
Have a published billing, payment and cancellation policy
Have a marketing plan
Have marketing materials (website, online presence, brochure, etc.)
Provide customer service training for front-line staff
Maintain an up-to-date listing on the Alberta Tourism Information System (ATIS)
Maintain a 24 to 48 hour response time (or less) during operating season
Our average response time is:
Maintain a 24 hour response time (or less) to reservation/booking requests
Our average response time is:
Can accept reservations online, by phone and/or email
Provide same day confirmation of booking arrangements
Have high resolution imagery and/or video footage for promotional purposes
List what actions are needed for your business to fully meet all of the market-ready criteria and a time-frame for completion.
Export Ready
A business that markets to and through travel trade distribution sales channels, understand commission or net rate pricing, agrees to trade bookings and has a cancelation policy. This is the highest level of readiness required to reach international markets through the travel trade.
Has been conducting business for at least one year with a proven track record for safe and professional operation
Have a budget and marketing plan that includes investments in international markets
Meet federal and provincial health and safety regulations
Understand the roles of the various travel trade organizations: receptive tour operators, wholesalers and travel agencies.
Understand rack or retail pricing, commissions and wholesale net rates
Willing to honour negotiated net rates and conditions for the duration of contractual agreements
Understand the laws affecting/impacting travellers from your geographic target markets
Have a current flat sheet describing your product/experience and associated high-resolution imagery
Willing to include receptive tour operators in your marketing and sales plan and provide contracted net rates
Provide pricing and program information to travel trade 12 to 18 months in advance of selling season
Prepared to set up billing arrangements with travel trade, including accepting vouchers
Carry adequate insurance based on needs of the receptive tour operators
Provide support (free or reduced rates) for international media and travel trade familiarization tours
Offer current exchange rates that meet industry norms
If you are interested in working in international markets, what actions are needed for your business to fully meet all of the export-ready criteria and what is your time-frame for completion.

Operator Readiness Checklist

Operator Readiness Survey Scale

For each business readiness criterion in each category indicate, for your business, the appropriate number in the drop down menus: 0 = Do not yet fulfill this criterion 1 = Meet some of this criterion 2 = Meet most of this criterion 3 = Fully meet this criterion

Visitor Ready

A business that meets the basic licensing, permitting and insurance to operate legally.

Market Ready

A business that markets to potential travellers; communicates with potential travellers year-round and is able to accept advance reservations. This is the basic level of readiness to conduct a tourism operation.

Export Ready

A business that markets to and through travel trade distribution sales channels, understand commission or net rate pricing, agrees to trade bookings and has a cancelation policy. This is the highest level of readiness required to reach international markets through the travel trade.

For each business readiness criterion in each category indicate, for your business, the appropriate number in the drop down menus:
0 = Do not yet fulfill this criterion

1 = Meet some of this criterion

2 = Meet most of this criterion

3 = Fully meet this criterion